Shloka 12

Mahiṣāsura’s Conquest of Svarga and the Devas’ Appeal to Śiva and Viṣṇu

Devanagari script

अतीव महसः पुंजं ज्वलन्तं दशदिक्षु च । अपश्यंस्त्रिदशास्सर्वे दुर्गा ध्यानपरायणाः

Transliteration

atīva mahasaḥ puṃjaṃ jvalantaṃ daśadikṣu ca | apaśyaṃstridaśāssarve durgā dhyānaparāyaṇāḥ

Translation

All the gods beheld an exceedingly radiant mass of blazing splendour spreading through the ten directions, while they remained wholly intent on meditation upon Goddess Durgā.

Word by Word

• अतीव: exceedingly
• अतीव: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अतीव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• महसः: of radiance/energy
• महसः: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन

• पुञ्जम्: a mass/heap
• पुञ्जम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुञ्ज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• ज्वलन्तम्: blazing
• ज्वलन्तम्: Karma-viśeṣaṇa (कर्मविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्वल् (धातु) + शतृ (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (present active participle, शतृ); पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, एकवचन; पुञ्जम् इति विशेषण

• दशदिक्षु: in the ten directions
• दशदिक्षु: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दश + दिश् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्विगुसमास (दश + दिशः); स्त्रीलिङ्ग; सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction)

• अपश्यन्: saw
• अपश्यन्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (imperfect/past); परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन; रूपम्: अपश्यन्(त्)

• त्रिदशाः: the gods (thirty)
• त्रिदशाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रिदश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Karta-viśeṣaṇa (कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, बहुवचन; त्रिदशाः इति विशेषण

• दुर्गाः: (as) Durgās / forms of Durgā
• दुर्गाः: Karta-sāmānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृसमानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुर्गा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ध्यानपरायणाः इति विशेष्य (appositional)

• ध्यानपरायणाः: intent on meditation
• ध्यानपरायणाः: Karta-viśeṣaṇa (कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ध्यान + परायण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (ध्यान-परायण = ध्यानम् एव परायणम् यस्य); पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, बहुवचन; दुर्गाः इति विशेषण

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Characters & Entities

• Durga
• Devas

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in the Shiva Purana?

It highlights how concentrated dhyāna refines awareness so that divine tejas (spiritual radiance) becomes perceptible, indicating the descent of grace when the mind is gathered and devoted.

How does this verse relate to the worship of the Linga or Saguna Shiva?

The blazing splendour in all directions echoes the Shaiva theme of the Divine manifesting as perceivable light and presence; such signs support saguna worship (form and attributes) while pointing toward the all-pervading Reality behind the form, as understood in Shaiva Siddhanta.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Steady dhyāna with one-pointed devotion (parāyaṇatā) is implied; practitioners may pair meditation with japa of the Panchākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and disciplined purity (bhasma/rudrākṣa observances) to stabilize attention.